HINSDALE -- Hinsdale Central’s Jack Baderman has quickly become a main man in the Red Devils’ offense.

Shifted to center midfielder this fall, the senior scored the game-winning goal in the Red Devils’ biggest win of the regular season, a 1-0 score over Lyons). He came up big again in Tuesday’s postseason opener, netting his first career varsity hat trick in a 7-0 regional win over Lincoln Park.

The trio of goals bounced Baderman’s season total to 10, up from the four he scored as a left side midfielder last fall.

“This year coach (Mike) Wiggins has moved me inside to center attacking mid,” Baderman said. “I have a lot more freedom to get forward. There’s still that defensive responsibility, but I’m also getting into a lot more advancing positions.”

With his team up 2-0 at halftime Tuesday, Baderman helped, literally, make quick work of any Lincoln Park comeback hopes.

The Red Devils scored three goals in just 48 seconds, two by Baderman. He first took a short pass on Michael Usher’s corner kick restart and scored on a low 15-yard shot for a 3-0 lead with 32:03 left.

Just 30 seconds later, Jake Semba stole a clearing attempt and put away a 20-yard strike. Then Baderman struck again, dribbling in off a steal and driving a 10-yard shot inside the right post for a 5-0 lead.

His cap of the hat trick with 24:19 left came on a perfect 35-yard liner just inside the left post.

“It’s my first (hat trick) for the varsity team, and it's always a good time to get it for the playoffs,” Baderman said. “As a team for us today it was definitely about execution. We’ve worked a lot on playing out of the mid, winning balls and double-teaming (defensively). It’s nice when the team works well together.

“Once we started winning doubles in advance positions, obviously chances arise. And I was lucky to get on the end of those.”

Defense goes on offense

Senior defender Will McGowen was the unlikely first half offensive hero, doubling his season goal total to four with finishes in the 16th and 39th minutes Tuesday.

“I was working for my teammates out there and working towards the next stage, the next game (Saturday’s regional final),” McGowen said. “We just kept working for each other and didn’t stop. We wanted it.”

Midfielder Jim Walker had assists on each of those two goals, with Bryan Loebig and Balderman also making key passes to set up the scores.

McGowen’s second goal 50 seconds before halftime was a particular lift.

“We got that second goal and it was nice leeway to give us a little cushion (up 2-0),” goalkeeper Wes Bergevin said, “but we knew it wasn’t over. Then we came out of halftime, scored a couple quick goals and continued to play well.”Picking up the pace

After starting the season with a 1-1-1 record in their first three games, the Red Devils have turned the tables with an 8-1-3 record in their last 12 matches. It is the right time to excel.

“We’ve jelled really well towards the end of this year,” Baderman said. “We’ve got some good young kids on this squad, and the seniors are kind of leading the group. Evan (Floersch) in the back has been solid all year, and Will McGowen is even starting to score some goals. I think it’s just a team effort and everyone working as one unit.”

Floersch scored the Red Devils’ final goal Tuesday on a direct kick. Goalkeeper Wes Bergevin and the Red Devils’ defense notched their 11th shutout of the season Tuesday, and fourth in the last five games.

“On the field we have to make sure we’re communicating and that we’ve got each other’s backs,” Bergevin said, “and I think we showed that pretty well today.

“The little things we’ve been working on all season have been preparing us for the playoffs, so those will definitely come into play now. It's just making sure we continue to play how we did today.”

A win in Saturday’s regional final would send the Red Devils on to a Lyons sectional semifinal showdown with the host Lions on Tuesday. That winner would likely meet No. 1 sectional seed Morton in the next round.